Claim: Police Have Hours of Tape in Netanyahu Gift Allegations Case

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty 10 Jan 2017

The Times of Israel reports: Damning leaks from the ongoing investigations into Benjamin Netanyahu continued to trickle out Tuesday, with police reported to have seized hours of tapes from negotiations the prime minister held with a dominant media mogul over a mutually beneficial deal. Those recordings are said to prove, among other things, that Netanyahu initiated the illicit meetings.

Police have two tapes, each containing hours of conversations between Netanayhu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes, recorded on multiple occasions, Haaretz reported. The apparent deal on the table, which was never implemented, would have seen the prime minister work to reduce the circulation of the Israel Hayom daily newspaper — Yedioth’s biggest rival — in exchange for more favorable coverage in Yedioth.

As well as initiating the meetings, Netanyhau was previously reported to have instructed his then-chief of staff, Ari Harow, to secretly record them.